Air-lift pump



J. OLIPHANI.

AIR L IFT PUMP.

APPUCATION FILED JUNE 28,1917.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ULIPHANT, OF CHICAG, ILLINOS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPGRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR-LIFT PUMP.

Application filed .Tune 28, 1917.

To all whom 'it muy con ccf/"fi:

Be it known that l, JOHN @Liri-MNT, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State olf Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Air-Lift umps, of which the `following is a full, clear and exact speciiication.

My imf'ention relates to air lift pumps.

lt has for its object to provide an improved mixing tube for an air litt pump, whereby the air is formed into a spray and expanded before it enters the liquid in such a manner as to result in a quicker and more diil'uscd mixture. A further objectV of my invention is to provide an improved construction whereby the air holes in the mixing tube may be kept from clogging, the same being so constructed that they are automatically cleaned by the rush of air therethrough.

ln the acccompanying drawings, l have shown, `tor purposes of illustration, one embodimeut which my invention may assume in practice, although it will be understood that the same is not limited to use in this form.

ln these drawings,-

Figure l is a central sectional view olf an air lilt pump equipped with my improvement.

Fig. Ll is an enlarged detail of a portion of the mixing tube shown in Fig. l.

ln this illustrative construction, it will be noted that l have shown a standard pump installed in a well, the pump being supplied with air through a suitable down pipe l which in turn communicates with a riser 2 oi' increased diameter through a foot-piece 3, preferably attached to or formed integral with a suitable joint l: inserted between different sections of the riser 2.

As shown, this foot-piece is provided with an upstanding portion 5, preferably substantially conical in form and provided with an inner longitudinally disposed chamber 6, the upper end of which is closedby a cap T suitably attached, as by threading, to the member` 5. As illustrated, a plurality of openings 8 are also provided in the member 5, forming a communication between the air supply furnished to the chamber 6 and the space surrounding the member 5 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Serial No. 177,605.

within the riser 2. These openings 8 may, obviously, be arranged in any desired order. As shown herein, they are, however, preferably arranged in a plurality of transversely disposed series spaced longitudinally of the member 5, and are provided with inclined and upwardly extending passages 9 in suoli a .manner that the air entering from the pipe 1 into the chamber 6 is discharged therefrom at an upward angle. In my improvement, it will also be noted that the mouths of these passages 9 are enlarged or reamed out, as shown at 10, the same being tapered in cross section 'from the passage 9 toward the outlet and provided with walls 1l and l2 of different length in such a manner as to enable the air rushing through the passages 9 readily to remove any sediment lodging therein.

By the use of my improved construction, it will be noted that the air which passes i'rom the chamber 6 out through the mouths l0 is formed into a spray and expanded before it enters the liquid, in such a manner as to result in a more diffused mixture and also in a quicker mixing of the air and liquid adapted to expedite and Jfacilitate the upward movement of the liquid in lthe riser Attention is also directed to the fact that through the provision of my improved construction wherein the mouths of the passages 9 are enlarged or reamed out, as shown, it is possible for the passages 9 to be maintained clear, the air which rushes out through the same tending to sweep out any sediment or sand which may have settled therein, as distinguished from those constructions wherein, with the passages 9 of the same diameter throughout, the sediment or sand is apt to become packed or lodged in the holes and thereby choke the same.

Vhile l have in this application specically described my invention as applied to a single type of tube, it will be evident that my improved means for spraying and ex panding the air and cleaning the holes may be applied to various other types of pumps than that shown and continue to perform its functions, it being my intention to include all such adaptations of my inventive idea within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.:

l. In an air litt pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein provided with double bores.

2. In an air lift pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein provided with stepped bores the outer ot' Which constitute gradually enlarging mouths.

8. In an air lift pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein provided with gradually enlarging mouths the Walls of each mouth being disposed at an angle to the bore of the corresponding aperture.

4t. In an air litt pump, a hollow mixing tube having angularly disposed outlets in its side walls provided with mouths gradually enlarged from a point intermediate the length ot the outlets toward the point of discharge.

5. In an air litt pump, hollow mixing tube having angularly disposed outlets in its side Walls provided with mouths gradually enlarged trom a point intermediate the length of the outlets toward the point oit discharge, said mouths having Walls o't dit ferent lengths.

G. In an air liit pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein provided With substantially cylindrical inlets and enlarged outlets.

7. In an air lift pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein provided with restricted inlet portions and enlarged outlet portions the intervening bore being nonconical.

8. In an air lift pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein, each oi' said apertures consisting of a restricted tube expanding abruptly adjacent its discharge to form an enlarged mouth.

9. In an air lift pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein, each of said apertures having a substantially7 uniform cross sectional area throughout a part oi'f its length, and an enlarged mouth.

l0. In an air lift pump, a mixing' tube having air apertures therein, each oi" said apertures having a substantially uniform cross sectional area throughout a part of its length, and an enlarged mouth, the walls of the latter being disposed at different angles.

l1. In an air litt pump, a mixing tube having air apertures therein, each ot said apertures consisting ot' a restricted tube having an enlarged mouth, the valls ot the latter' being disposed at ditl'erent angles.

l2. In an air lii't pump, a, mixing tube having air apertures therein provided with substantially cylindrical inlets and enlarged outlets, the walls of the latter being disposed at ditferent angles.

13A mixing tube for air lilt pumps having air apertures therein, no element ol Whose lateral bounding surfaces is straight, the inlet ends olE said air apertures being oiz less diameter than the discharge ends thereof.

14. A mixing tube for air litt pumps liaring air apertures therein so shaped that an element of their bounding sur-faces is a nonstraight line, the inlet ends of said air apertures being or' less liameter than the discharge ends thereof.

15. A mixing tube for air litt pumps hav ing air apertures therein so toi-med that it a plane be passed through the axis ot an aperture and intersect the bounding wall thereof, the lines of intersection Will be nonstraight and will be convergent at no point between the inlet and discharge orifices ot said apertures.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature.

JOI-IN OLIPHNT. 

